Breaking down

I'm so tired but I can't sleep at night. Last night I woke up multiple times and just cried. I don't know if it's because I'm tired or if I'm in a depression phase... I really need to figure something out because it's messing with my schoolwork and my life in general, even though it's only been less than a week. The fast pace of my school makes it really hard to get out of the hole I'm digging.

Do stresses in your life trigger depression? My stresses are basically over but I still feel anxious (thus the lack of sleep). I can't focus and I just want to curl up and sleep and/or cry.

I don't quite know what to do and I don't want to call home because I think they'll freak out. The last thing I want to do is spread give my mom anxiety because then she won't sleep either! What do you all think I should do?

Stress can definitely trigger an episode and I have experienced that even when the stressor has been removed I can still remain in the episode.

I would suggest contacting your p-doc. If you don't have a prescription for sleep request a prescription. Regular sleep is VERY important for a person diagnosed and if I'm having difficulties falling and/or staying asleep I will take a sleeping tab before bed.

Hope that helps.

Hi laur: I don't remember if you said you're on meds or seeing a pdoc? If you aren't, and you're still anxious and depressed even when your stresses are over, you really should see a doctor. It can get worse, and you need to address it while you still understand that it's not good for you. Hang in there, and call someone - don't wait!

I totally agree with all the suggestions but have one more to offer. Do the best you can to reduce your stressors. You are still in the add/drop period. There is no shame in taking a smaller course load or taking easier courses this semester while you are having a difficult time. Talk to your professors during office hours and be honest about what you are going through. They may be able to offer you some extra help to alleviate some pressure. There is a student services office, you can go to them for help. You also have a disabilities office and they will go to extrordinary lengths to keep you enrolled and healthy. You aren't isolated and you aren't alone. Please ask for help before you damage your academic career or worse, damage yourself.
Best wishes,
ptk

Thanks for the support. I'm going to call my doctor tomorrow and have a chat. We'll definitely have a lot to talk about...

Took a nap this afternoon, which helped a lot but still feeling a little bogged down. Hopefully I'll work something out tomorrow!

Thanks again! It truly makes me feel a lot better to have people who understand what I'm dealing with for support and advice.
-L

Its nice to know that I'm not alone. I've also been under a lot of stress too lately and I have crying episodes as well...sometimes for no reason. Being in college is a major stress in my life right now. I hope things get better for you!!

I've also been having a rough time with school. I'm taking online classes and some of the homework I dont get and all my professors can come up with is "you should have taken the class face to face" which I couldnt because I cant drive that far everyday b/c of financial issues. I have like panic attacks and crying episodes everyday since the beginning of this semester and the more I try to understand it the more frustrated I get. Just know your not alone

Hi Kayla, and welcome. If you have anything you're struggling with in your online classes, I might be able to help. I took a lot of my college classes online. Then again, if I don't know the subject matter, I wouldn't be much help! I did well in all my English, writing, business and psychology classes, lousy in science of any kind and struggled in math. Other than that...

Thank you for offering, I'm doing Advanced Coding and CPT-4. Do you know anything about it?

I'm doing anatomy and physiology right now, but don't know about coding since I'm working on transcription. Sorry!

I think the most benefical thing you can do for yourself is define your stressors. Once you know what they are, you can put plans in place to avoid or minimise them.
Personally, I'm very bad at this. I give 100% to anything I do, and make it my own (Especially in a work environment) so I battle to just walk away from a stressful situation.
I would definitely chat to the pdoc and ask for either a sleeping aid (Remember that some may make you drowsy the next morning though) and also to check over your med combo. There are good meds out there for anxiety.